Friday, May 28, 2010

Having resided in Portland for over 13 years, I now consider myself solidly 'West Coast' and an adapted non-native (as opposed to invasive) resident of the Cascadia Megaregion. But 20+ years living literally near the middle and continued explorations of some midwestern cities has given me an appreciation for the third coast - a term I first heard in reference to another fascination, that of audio documentary. A recent announcement of a Call for Submissions for publication in the 3rd Coast Atlas described as: "A platform for research and design initiatives that explore the urbanization, landscape, infrastructure and ecology of the Great Lakes Basin and Great Lakes Megaregion."

Some information: "Third Coast Atlas is an unprecedented compendium of theoretical essays, maps, scholarly research and design provocations that facilitate a contemporary survey of the urbanization of the Great Lakes Basin, known as the Third Coast. This includes research, analysis and design from scholars and practitioners in the disciplines of architecture, urbanism, landscape, geography and ecology. The book, conceived as an atlas that positions the Great Lakes Basin as a synthetic regional territory with a population of 30 million people and investigates its landscapes as strategic events in the economic, infrastructural and ecological concerns and opportunities of the area."

The concept of a large internal coastline around the Great Lakes Megaregion/Basin is fascinating given the overall length of area relative to said east and west counterparts (although to be fair both of these coasts extend well into Canada as well, and into Mexico on the west, no?). Having spent time in northern Minnesota (we did a semi-utopian car-free City of Duluth plan as part of a combined arch/la studio in 1995), along with areas of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois it's interesting to think of somewhat disparate parts of this 'coast' tied together by geography and their reference to the lakes making them potentially navigable via boat - something worth of a trip by William Least-Heat Moon. Plus this may just be the excuse I need for another trip to Detroit.:: image via 3rd Coast Atlas

The call is for scholarly papers, contemporary design projects, mapping/data/information/research, or photography & fill/video stills, making it likely to be a rich multi-media experience. The trio of editors includes Claire Lyster, Charles Waldheim, and Mason White (Thanks @masoncwhite for the heads up via Twitter on this one!